Not a new member, just have not posted in 7 years.

[cwmehring]

I need some help. I only frequent this forum when I’m in the market for a watch. I have an Explorer 2 (216570) and am in the market for a birth year submariner. I want to learn as much as possible about 1980 Submariners, and I believe the reference number is 1680. If you have any suggestions as to what reference material I can use to learn more, I would appreciate the information. I have the following books:
1) The Vintage Rolex Field Manual Chevalier Edition 2020
2) Vintage Rolex 2020

I enjoy the reading so please send me suggestions.

[Michael1968]

Welcome back

[brandrea]

Welcome. Should be lots of searchable information in the vintage forum

[TuRo]

Tbh I wouldn’t bother with any of the books - even the (some consider bible) Mondani books are out of date/information has superseded them imho.

I’d surf the net using deep dives like ‘what are the types of wgs 5513 dial configurations’ and this and vrf forum threads come up from years ago….you can also search on the forum but I find the internal search facilities are not as good as using Google tbh.

There is some great stuff by Milton H on early 5513/5512 subs and jP on GMT’s. 1680 reds are served by poster with url DRSD are still valid as are his other posts on 1665 etc

The ‘proper’ (tongue in cheek a bit here) 37mm big and small crown subs info is a bit more sparse than the later 40mm stuff, mainly because there are so many dial difference. The 5508 for example has at least a dozen dial variants!

A few 1680 morsels…

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=754223

https://www.drsd.com/watch-info/red-sub/redsub.html

https://rolexpassionreport.com/174/e...iner-ref-1680/

https://italianwatchspotter.com/ever...-1680/?lang=en

Edit: There is one cheap book I use by Skeet and Ural.

It’s brilliant for the documenting of changing of sports models (Explorer/Submariner/T-o-graph/Daytona/Sea- Dweller/GMT/Milgauss etc) over time, eg the changes to Ref no's, calibre, crown, case and caseback shape etc etc….it though doesn’t do the inside baseball stuff we like on dial variations and inserts etc and uses photoshop quite a bit. It’s clear systematic layout is its main merit.

One cheap one here £60 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225953850...Bk9SR8qU-dmfYw

[GGGMT]

Glad we can be of assistance. Welcome back


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[seabreeze]

this was me a few months ago welcome back and good luck